Isobutylamine
Isobutylamine carries a primary amine group on a branched, four-carbon chain — the methyl branch sits adjacent to the amine-bearing carbon, giving it a steric profile distinct from its straight-chain isomer n-butylamine while remaining a genuinely reactive, unhindered primary amine for most acylation and reductive-amination chemistry.
Chelora Chemicals supplies Isobutylamine to pharmaceutical intermediate, agrochemical and rubber-chemical manufacturers worldwide, in drums and pressure-rated packaging suited to its flammability, with a batch COA and GHS safety data sheet on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 78-81-9
- IUPAC name
- 2-Methylpropan-1-amine
- Common name
- 2-Methyl-1-propanamine (IBA)
- Molecular formula
- C4H11N
- Molecular weight
- 73.14 g/mol
- EC / EINECS
- 201-148-7
- SMILES
- CC(C)CN
Note: this product is a flammable, corrosive liquid shipped under dangerous-goods regulations — confirm your receiving facility can handle a Class 3 flammable liquid with corrosive secondary hazard before finalising logistics, and request the current transport documentation for your specific route.
What Isobutylamine is used for
Isobutylamine's methyl branch, positioned one carbon away from the primary amine group, gives it a somewhat different steric environment than its straight-chain isomer, while the amine itself remains an effective, unhindered nucleophile for most standard amine chemistry — acylation, sulfonylation and reductive amination all proceed readily.
Isobutylamine is used as a building-block intermediate in pharmaceutical synthesis, in the manufacture of certain agrochemical active ingredients, as a precursor for rubber vulcanisation accelerators, and as a general-purpose reagent in fine-chemical and dye synthesis.
Related isomers & derivatives
Branch position differentiates isobutylamine from its C4 amine relatives:
- Isobutylamine (branched at C2, CAS 78-81-9) — this product. The methyl branch sits adjacent to the primary-amine-bearing carbon.
- n-Butylamine (straight-chain, CAS 109-73-9) — see our n-Butylamine product page. No branching; used more in fungicide and corrosion-inhibitor synthesis.
- sec-Butylamine (branched, secondary carbon, CAS 13952-84-6) — see our sec-Butylamine product page. The amine sits on a secondary carbon within the chain rather than at a branch point, giving yet another distinct reactivity and use profile, including its own registered fungicidal use.
If your process specifically requires this branch position, confirm the CAS number on your purchase order — the related C4 amine isomers have measurably different steric environments and are not interchangeable in a validated synthesis route.
Appearance and handling character
This product ships as a colourless liquid with a strong, penetrating ammonia-like odour. It is miscible with water and most organic solvents in all proportions, is flammable, and must be handled as a corrosive liquid at all times — see the safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless liquid; strong, penetrating ammonia-like odour |
| Assay (GC) | 99%+ |
| Melting point | − 85 °C |
| Moisture | Reported per batch |
| Colour / impurity profile | Reported per batch |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial grade material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document. If your process demands a tighter specification, send it to us and we will quote against it rather than against a generic grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Colourless liquid with a strong ammonia-like odour |
| Melting point | − 85 °C |
| Boiling point | 67 – 69 °C |
| Flash point | ≈ − 9 °C (closed cup) |
| Relative density | ≈ 0.73 g/cm³ @ 20 °C |
| Water solubility | Miscible with water in all proportions |
| Organic solubility | Miscible with ethanol, ether and most common organic solvents |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 78-81-9 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this molecule to work
Its branched but still reactive primary amine group is what makes isobutylamine a useful, somewhat differentiated alternative to the straight-chain C4 amine across pharmaceutical and agrochemical synthesis.
Pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis
Used as a building-block reagent in the synthesis of certain active pharmaceutical ingredient intermediates.
- Pharmaceutical-intermediate grade available
- Talk to our technical desk about your route
Agrochemical intermediate synthesis
Used as a building-block reagent in the synthesis of certain agrochemical active ingredients.
- Agrochemical-grade documentation available
Rubber vulcanisation accelerator synthesis
Serves as a building block in the synthesis of certain rubber-processing chemicals, including vulcanisation accelerators.
Fine-chemical & dye-intermediate reagent
A general-purpose reagent used in fine-chemical and dye synthesis wherever an isobutylamino group is the required building block.
- Custom synthesis quantities available
Analytical & reference chemistry
A well-documented reagent used in analytical method development and reference work.
- Small pack sizes available for trial work
Contract & scheduled supply
Pharmaceutical, agrochemical and rubber-chemical plants run to production campaign. We hold inventory where available and release it against your production plan rather than in one shipment.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
How we supply Isobutylamine
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. We own no plant of our own — on an intermediate like this one, that independence lets us find the source that can actually deliver your specification and timeline rather than whatever a single captive unit happens to be running.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your assay, your colour or purity requirement, your price point and your delivery window.
Where a dedicated second source is not readily available, we tell you plainly rather than overstating supply security — and we work with you on lead-time planning accordingly.
- Specification read against the CAS first. We check the exact isomer and CAS number before quoting, so the material you receive matches the chemistry your process needs.
- Dangerous-goods logistics handled correctly, every time. This product's flammability means transport classification and packaging are not optional extras — we confirm and apply the correct DG documentation for every shipment.
- Full batch documentation as standard. COA and GHS safety data sheet accompany every consignment.
- Pressure-rated, vapour-tight packing. We pack this flammable liquid in containers and closures rated for its vapour pressure, reducing loss and exposure risk during transit.
- Honest lead-time guidance. We tell you plainly if a particular quantity will take longer than a stocked item, rather than promising a turnaround we cannot deliver.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Regulatory documentation, packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
Packed the way your lab or plant receives it
Tell us your quantity, physical form and destination and we will quote the packing and Incoterm that fits it.
UN-rated steel drums
Pressure-rated, UN-certified steel drums appropriate for this flammable liquid, with vapour-tight closures.
ISO tank / IBC for bulk orders
ISO tank container or IBC packing for larger-volume industrial orders, subject to dangerous-goods loading approval at your receiving port.
Laboratory & development quantities
Small, properly sealed samples for process development and analytical reference work, packed to the same DG standard as commercial quantities.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with correct Class 3 dangerous-goods documentation confirmed for each shipment.
Batch-plan despatch
Where your production runs to a batch schedule, we release contracted quantity against your calendar.
Larger volumes on request
For genuinely bulk requirements, we will source and quote a custom production run — talk to us about lead time, MOQ and receiving-terminal DG approval.
Check the batch SDS — it is the governing document
Isobutylamine is classified as hazardous under GHS. It is a highly flammable liquid and vapour, toxic if swallowed or if inhaled, and causes severe skin burns and eye damage. Always read and follow the SDS supplied with your specific batch before finalising your handling procedure.
Classified hazards (treat conservatively)
H225Highly flammable liquid and vapour.H301Toxic if swallowed.H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.H331Toxic if inhaled.H412Harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
As with the other short-chain aliphatic amines, both fire-safety and chemical-burn precautions apply simultaneously to this product — treat every handling operation as requiring both ignition-source control and full corrosive-liquid PPE. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch before finalising your handling procedure.
Spill & emergency orientation
Plan your response before the container arrives, not after a spill occurs. The points below are orientation for your emergency planners — sections 4, 5 and 6 of the SDS are the authoritative instructions and should be posted at the point of use.
- Treat any skin contact, ingestion or inhalation as an emergency — seek medical attention promptly rather than waiting to see whether symptoms develop.
- Contain, do not hose to drain. Sweep or collect the solid, or contain the liquid with absorbent material, into a labelled waste container.
- Avoid breathing dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray during any handling or spill response.
- Wash skin thoroughly after any contact and remove contaminated clothing immediately.
- Have the SDS with the casualty at all times so the treating clinician has the product identity, CAS number and hazard classification in hand.
Storage
- Store in a cool, well-ventilated, flameproof area, away from all sources of ignition, heat and direct sunlight, given its low flash point.
- Keep containers tightly closed and upright, in appropriate secondary containment to manage both flammable-liquid and corrosive-spill risk.
- Segregate from oxidisers, strong acids and combustible materials, as required for a flammable, corrosive amine.
- Bond and ground equipment during transfer, to control static discharge given the low flash point of this liquid.
Handling & PPE
- Design exposure out where practical. Closed transfer, local exhaust ventilation and mechanical charging reduce risk regardless of scale.
- Full-coverage, chemical-resistant skin protection as a conservative default — gloves and coveralls, avoiding bare-skin contact.
- Respiratory protection wherever dust, mist or vapour may be present, per your exposure assessment.
- Eye protection and an accessible eyewash and safety shower at every handling point.
- Never discharge to drain or watercourse. The aquatic-toxicity classification applies — dispose of waste as regulated chemical waste.
Transport
We confirm and apply the correct transport classification for every consignment of this compound based on your specific batch's documentation, rather than assuming a fixed classification. We classify each shipment, apply appropriate packaging and labelling, and file the export documentation before booking — ask us for the current paperwork when you plan the shipment.
What travels with every consignment
A chemical shipment is only as good as the file that travels with it. Verifying what the source plant sends is precisely the work you are buying from a supplier.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-specific assay, appearance, and impurity profile — checked against your purchase specification before we release the goods.
Safety Data Sheet
Full 16-section SDS covering hazards, exposure controls, handling, storage, spill response and disposal, matched precisely to the batch you receive — issued in the language your destination requires.
Transport documentation
Correct classification, packaging and labelling confirmed and filed before the container is booked, whichever transport category the batch falls under.
Certificate of Origin
Chamber-attested where required, plus preferential-origin forms where a trade agreement gives your import duty relief at the destination.
Third-party inspection
SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas sampling and inspection arranged on request before loading, giving you independent verification of what actually ships.
Retained & pre-shipment samples
Pre-shipment samples carry the same COA as the commercial lot, so what your laboratory qualifies is exactly what arrives. Retention samples held against the batch.
A branched C4 amine, a step removed from n-butylamine
Isobutylamine is manufactured from isobutanol or isobutyraldehyde via established industrial amination routes. The notes below are general background, not synthesis instructions.
Start from isobutanol or isobutyraldehyde
Both are established commercial starting materials for branched-chain primary amine synthesis.
Reductive amination or catalytic hydrogenation
Catalytic amination of isobutanol with ammonia, or reductive amination of isobutyraldehyde, installs the primary amine group.
Distil to isolate the target amine
Fractional distillation separates isobutylamine from diisobutylamine co-product and unreacted starting material.
Test and certify assay and purity
GC assay and moisture/impurity parameters are tested and certified before release.
Why isomer and substitution pattern matter
Because branch position affects steric bulk and reactivity even among isomers with the identical molecular formula, substituting a related C4 amine isomer changes your reaction outcome:
- n-Butylamine (straight-chain isomer) lacks the branch and reacts somewhat differently in sterically sensitive acylation or coupling steps.
- sec-Butylamine places the amine on a secondary carbon within the chain rather than at a branch point, giving a distinct reactivity profile and its own separate registered fungicidal use.
- Residual diisobutylamine content from the manufacturing route is a controlled impurity parameter and should be confirmed on the batch COA for sensitive applications.
- Water content affects both reactivity and vapour-pressure behaviour in process handling and should be checked against your process specification.
That chain of consequences is the reason we quote against your written specification rather than a generic grade, and the reason the batch COA is shared for approval before dispatch rather than sent with the invoice.
| Intermediate | Principal outlet |
|---|---|
| Isobutylamine CAS 78-81-9 — this product | Pharma, agrochemical & rubber-chemical intermediate Branched-chain C4 amine |
| sec-Butylamine CAS 13952-84-6 | Post-harvest fungicide & intermediate See our product page |
If your route calls for one of the others, we supply those as well — see the full intermediate range. Send the CAS number and we will confirm the correct material before quoting.
What actually moves the price of this intermediate
Knowing what drives the quote helps you plan a purchase realistically.
Producer base & capacity
A moderate number of petrochemical and fine-chemical manufacturers produce isobutylamine at commercial scale; pricing tracks isobutanol/isobutyraldehyde feedstock cost and dangerous-goods-compliant manufacturing and logistics costs.
- Qualify a source well ahead of when you need volume
- Custom production runs may carry longer lead times
- We are transparent about single-source risk here
Upstream feedstock
The route runs through isobutanol or isobutyraldehyde, both linked to isobutylene-derivative petrochemical markets. These costs feed through within a quarter or so.
- Feedstock cost sets the floor on price
- We flag feedstock-driven moves in the quote
Purity and grade tier
Higher-purity, tightly specified material prices above a general technical grade. Tell us your actual end use and we will avoid over-specifying.
- Tell us the reaction you are running
- We will say when a tighter spec is unnecessary
Order size and pack format
Most buyers order in commercial pack sizes rather than bulk tonnage. If your requirement genuinely is bulk, tell us early — the sourcing conversation is quite different from a small commercial order.
- Small commercial packs are readily available
- Bulk orders need advance lead-time planning
Freight considerations
Confirm the correct transport classification for your specific batch — this affects freight cost and available carrier options, and we handle that confirmation as part of every quote.
- Classification confirmed per batch
- We quote FOB, CIF, CFR or DDP as you prefer
Lead time realism
We would rather tell you honestly that a custom lot will take several weeks than promise a stocked-item turnaround we cannot deliver.
- Ask early for the most accurate lead time
- Sample qualification adds time but reduces risk
| If your end use is… | Specify |
|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical-intermediate synthesis | Confirm impurity limits for your route |
| Agrochemical / rubber-chemical synthesis | Standard technical grade, 99%+ assay |
| Fine-chemical / dye-intermediate synthesis | Standard technical grade |
| Research / analytical reference | Small pack, fast despatch |
Not sure which row you are in? Describe the reaction you are running and our technical desk will confirm the exact grade you need.
Support that goes beyond shipping the pack
What our technical desk will do
- Confirm the exact isomer and substitution pattern. With closely related nitroaromatic isomers in this family, we check the CAS number before we quote, every time.
- Verify the hazard classification against your specific batch. We do not rely on a single reference source — we check the SDS for the lot we are quoting.
- Give you honest lead-time guidance for a product that may not always be stocked.
- Review your specification before it goes into a contract, so you are not locked into a limit that no plant can consistently hit.
Regulatory & compliance notes
- Import controls vary by destination. We check the destination rules before quoting, not after you have raised the PO.
- Chemical inventory listings differ between regions. Confirm your obligations under the applicable inventory regime for your import volume — we will supply the identity data you need for that filing.
- Transport classification is confirmed for every batch based on its own documentation and filed before booking.
- Downstream regulatory status of whatever you build from this intermediate is a separate question your own regulatory team should confirm for your specific finished product.
None of the above is legal advice — your own regulatory affairs team owns the final compliance position for your import. What we commit to is giving you accurate product identity data, an honest statement of the hazard classification for your specific batch, and complete documentation to work from.
From enquiry to delivered pack
Send the specification
Product name or CAS 78-81-9, the assay and purity limits you work to, quantity, pack preference and destination port.
Receive a firm quote
Pricing, realistic lead time, packing and Incoterm confirmed in writing within 24 hours — our sourcing desk is staffed around the clock.
Qualify and approve
Sample dispatched if you are qualifying a new source. Batch COA and matching SDS shared for your approval before the material is released.
Ship and track
Correct classification confirmed, freight booked, export documents issued, and the consignment tracked through transit and clearance to your plant.
Other nitroaromatic intermediates we supply
What buyers ask us about Isobutylamine
What is Isobutylamine mainly used for?
How does it differ from n-Butylamine and sec-Butylamine?
What safety precautions apply to this product?
How is it shipped, given its flammability?
What is the minimum order quantity?
How long does delivery take?
What paperwork comes with the consignment?
- Batch certificate of analysis
- GHS safety data sheet
- Dangerous-goods transport documentation (Class 3, UN1214)
- Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading
- Certificate of origin and any destination-specific forms
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Request pricing on Isobutylamine
Send your required assay, quantity, pack format and destination port. Our sourcing desk is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and comes back with pricing, an honest lead time, and packing options for whatever volume you need.